Helmet



imatented May 29, i923,

NETE@ STATES FRED D. 'WLDROL BROOKLYN, NEVI YORK, lSSG-'NGR TO VJESTERN ELECTRC COMPANY, NCORPORATED, OF NEW YGBK, N. Y., A CORPORATON OF NEW YORK.

HELBEET.

Application filed April 13,

To all who??? it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRED D. VVALDRON7 a citizen of the United States, residing; at

Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Helmets, of which the 'following' is a full7 clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates in general to aviators helmets and more particularly to a helmet especially adapted 'for the eihcient operation of the telephone apparatus associated the rew ith In order to obtain satisfactory operation ot the telephone apparatus used in aeroplane service, either for communication between the pilot and the observer or tor communication. with outside stations, it is essential that special precautions be taken to exclude or overcome the excessive noises resulting from the whir of the propellers. the rush of air and the exhaust of the engines, which in some types of aeroplanes are located adjacent to the pilot. lt is not only necessary that such precautions be taken, but it is also necessary that the means provided to exclude outside noises should not in any way encumber the users movements or obstruct his line of vision to the extent ot interfering with his customary duties. Y

Since the customary aviators outfit includes a helmet fitting` closely over the skull and adapted to protect the aviators head, it is the object of the present invention to provide a helmet specially arranged to carry a pair of telephone receivers mounted in such a manner as to be shielded trom the eiects of all outside disturbances.

A further object is to so construct the' helmet that out-side disturbances will be prevented trom reaching the ears of the aviator.

A still further object is to provide a helmet adjustable to the head ot the user whereby the receivers are held inthe position 'for most efcient operation and one which may be easily placed in position and removed without disturbing the adjustment of the receivers for a certain individual.

To accomplish these objects a feature ot the invention resides in permanently securing in the helmet a pair of pockets each adapted to hold a telephone receiver or the familiar watch case type. rlhese pockets D are provided with means for both reflecting 1918. Serial No. 228,393.

and absorbing any vibrations from outside disturbances which would otherwise vset the receiver casing in vibration and interfere with ones listening.

Another feature residesv in constructing the helmet so that the edges bear iirmly against the tace ot the wearer, thus excludino' external noises to a considerable degree, and in providing collapsible earpieces which further aid in preventing outside disturl ances from reaching the ears ot the user.

A further feature consists in providinga lacing' for the upper portion oil the helmet by means of which it may be adjusted to NFit the individual head, and a separate lacingV which may be loosened to permit the helmet beine placed in position or removed.

'These and other features ot the invention may be better understood by reterring to the accompanying; drawing in which Figi.' l is a perspective view of a preferred type of helmet in accordance with this invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receiver pocket taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l and looking in the direction or the small arrows.

The helmet proper `is preferably made ot sheepskin leather and lined with some such material as eiderdown cloth. The upper portion consists ot a number ot V-shaped pieces 5-5 sewed together and so cut as to form a tight-fitting cap portion. Attached to the lower edges of the pieces on each side ot the helmetis a side piece 6 of suitable dimensions to afford the desired protection and equipped with a pocket desi gned to hold a receiver of the watch case type.

The construction of this receiver pocket is shown in detail in Fig. 2 and consists of a cup-shaped member 7, preferably ot cowhide or other stii leather, termed into approximately the shape shown, and having its outer edge 8 bent over to lie in a plane parallel to that of the central portion. lThe inside of the cup-shaped member 7 is provided with a layer of metal toil 9,` preferably lead1 for the purpose ot excludingV outside disturbances by the reiiection of sound waves,

and this metal .toil in turn is protected by layer of heavy cloth or drilling; l0. The use of metal toil tor this purpose forms no part of the present invention` but is illustrated and specifically claimed in a copende ing application of John P. Minton. Serial No. 224,968, filed March 27, 1918. sott Jfelt ringr 11 triangular in section is then placed` within the cup, the inner diameter of this ring being such as to allow the insertion ot the casing 12 of the telephone receiver. The edges of the metal foil 9 are bent over as shown at 13-1'3 and are joined by a ring ot metal foil 111, also preferably of lead. A ring 15 or' comparatively stift leather is placed upon the ring 14; for lthe purpose of alording mechanical protection to the metal foil and also to add a certain amount of rigidity tol the'receiver pocket and permit its being,` secured to the helmet. This pocket, as described, is now fastened into the aviators helmet by stitching as shown at 16 through the leather ot the helmet 6, the yedge 8 ot the leather cup, thev ring 15 and the eiderdown lining; 17 ot the helmet.

F or the purpose oi tur-ther excluding; all outside disturbances, there is provided an earpiece 18 which does not 'form a part oi" the present invention but is illustrated and specii'ically claimed in my Patent No. 1.368,- 30'? off February 15, 1921. rlliis ear piece is preterably ol sott sponge rubber and is provided with asoit gum rubber insert or ring 19 which, because oit its greater rigidityiy permits the earpiece being secured to the shouldered hard rubber receiver cap 20. rn aperture 21, in alignment with a similar aperture in the receiver cap, permits `the eiiicient operation oi the receiver.

One of the side piecesis provided with a strap 24 adapted to pass under the chin oi? the wearer and engage a buckle 25 secured to the other side piece. These side pieces are so made that when this strap is tightened the edges oi the side pieces fit closely to the face, thereby excluding outside noises and also preventingn air from working into the helmet and forming pockets. Thisv is accomplished by slightly gathering` the edges which are then bound, and by providing in each side piece a stitched dart 26, as shown. A softlined strap is provided as a guard for strap E211 to prevent the latter from causing chaiing. ln order to permit the helmet being fitted to the head of the individual so that the receivers are located in the most veilicient position and also to make it easy to put on and take off, leather tacings ZT 27 are provided with periorations which allow their being` laced together. The lacing 28 is provided for adjustingl the helmet to the in- 'dividual kand at'terr being adjusted once, vneed not be changed. The lower lacing 2%),

efficient transmission is accomplished by means oit 41the strap 30 and the buckle S1. An aperture 32 is provided on either re ceiver pocket to permit the insertion ot the conducting cords Short straps 34; providedwith glove fasteners are also provided or the purpose of holdingthe aviators goggles in position. i

lt will be noted that the helmet illustrated and described is close fitting and has no projecting` parts to citer resistance to or catch the wind, a feature of considerable importance when taking` into consideratioi'i the hipgh rate ot speed with which aeroplanes often travel and the practical absence ot a shield to protect the aviators head trom thc pressure of the wind. ltwill also be noted. that the method oit holding' the receivers in place makes it easy to substitute for one set oit receivers another set having a different impedance should occasion arise.

ldhat is claimed is:

l. A helmet comprising` an upper portion and a lower portion, means 'for adjusting;- the upper portionV to fit the head .oi the individual. user, a pair o't receiver pockets permanently secured to said lower portion and additional means for adjusting said receiver pockets for proper alignment with the ears oit the individual user.

2. Ni. helmet comprising an upper portion.l a lacing` for adjusting said portion to iqit the head of 'the individual user, a lower portion having,` a pair of receiver pockets perinanently secured thereto, and a lacing,1 'for adjustably positioning; said. pockets toY the ears ot the individual user. A

helmet comprising an upper portion, a lower portion having a pair oii receiver pockets permanently secured thereto, means in the upper portion Ylor providing a vertical adjustiiienjt-itor the receiver pockets, and additional means in the lower portion for further adjusting` the position of the receiver pockets. f l

l. A helmet -comprising;` a lower portion having` a pair of receiver pockets permanently secured thereto, a lacing in said portion for adjustably positioning` said pockets to the ears of the individual user, an upper portion, a lacing` Vfor adjusting; said upper portion to iit thehead ot the individual user, and additional means in the upper portion' for adjusting' the helmet to bring the receiver pockets into the most efficient position Jforthe individual user.

ln witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe llO 

